As
Matthew Kendrick looked up and saw her coming slowly down, her husband
carefully adjusting himself to the dip and swing of her step as she put
always the same foot foremost, he found himself distinctly glad of his
grandson's suggestion, since it gave him so charming a guest to
entertain as Mrs. Rufus Gray.
In the interval Richard had retired to a telephone, and had made the
wires between his present position and the stone pile warm with his
orders. In consequence a certain gray-haired housekeeper, lately
returned from some family festivities of her own and about to retire,
found herself galvanized into activity by the sound of a well-known and
slightly imperious voice issuing upsetting instructions to have the best
suite of rooms in the house made ready within half an hour for
occupancy, and the house itself lighted for the reception of the guests.
Other commands to butler and Mr. Richard's own manservant followed in
quick succession, and when the young man turned away from the telephone
he was again smiling to himself at thought of the consternation he was
causing in a household accustomed to be run upon such lines of
conservatism and well defined routine that any deviation therefrom was
likely to prove most unacceptable.
Pages:
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147